Sydney star Nick Blakey admits he isn’t sure where the footy will end up when he’s streaming through the middle of an AFL field.
But Blakey has credited his side’s team-orientated defence for his breathtaking individual display against Carlton on Friday night.
Blakey was the No. 1 rated player on the ground in the Swans’ 26-point win over Carlton with 26 disposals (21 kicks at 71.4% efficiency), 12 marks (7 intercept) and 626m gained.
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The 23-year-old personified a more aggressive Swans outfit on Friday night, backing his run and carry from half-back to set up several attacking forays for Sydney.
“Nick Blakey is a freak. We love watching him run through the middle like he did,” Swans teammate Chad Warner told Channel 7 post-game.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy Blakey “cut them (the Blues) to bits”, while ex-Hawks sharpshooter Ben Dixon added he was one of the major reasons why the Swans win.
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“Coming off half-back he’s hard to stop because if traffic comes in front of him, he just gets around it beautifully,” Dixon told Fox Footy. “As a teammate, you’ve got to be alert when he’s got the ball.”
Asked post-game about what runs through his mind when he’s running with the football at full pace, Blakey told Fox Footy: “I’ve got no idea what I’m doing once I get it and take off. ‘Paps’ (Tom Papley) always cooks me for not lowering (my vision) and hitting him.
“It’s good fun to go for those runs. I didn’t kick the ball as well as I would’ve liked but it’s something to work on.”
Blakey, who stands at 195cm, has been asked to play as a key defender often this season in the wake of the Swans’ injury crisis, which has affected the club’s top three key defenders: Paddy McCartin (concussion), Tom McCartin (concussion) and Dane Rampe (neck).
But the inclusion of fringe defender Lewis Melican on Friday night allowed Blakey to provide more counter-punch for the Swans.
“He was a star forward as a junior then couldn’t get it to work, for whatever reason, as a half-forward flanker at AFL level,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King told Fox Footy.
“He’s gone to half-back and it’s changed his whole approach to footy. His kicking skills are different but in their own way they create scores. He kicks some howlers, don’t get me wrong, but when he’s on, they score.”
Blakey said a “simple” individual mindset, as well as a team defensive buy-in, led to his strong performance against Carlton.
“Charlie (Curnow) and Harry (McKay) are two of the best forwards in the competition. We knew we had our work cut out for us, but it was a real system-based game,” Blakey said.
“I was out of position a few times, ‘Lloydy’ (Jake Lloyd) covered me and chopped it off. Aaron Francis took great intercept marks.
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“I think we all gelled nicely as a defensive group and it was definitely a combined effort.”
Blakey the fact the Swans were playing their first Friday night game at the SCG this year in Sir Doug Nicholls round helped them play with more energy.
“We said it pre-game that this was a massive game for our club and we’re so proud to represent all the Indigenous boys that have represented this great club,” he said.